Today was not as interesting a day as yesterday, unfortunately. Well, I probably shouldn't start this entry like that - it began well enough, with rounds, and then a trip down to the ED with the reg on duty to assess a couple of kids that were then admitted. The ED up here is crazy - quite small, but extremely busy, and the noise is incredible after being on the quiet paeds ward. Apparently it was a particularly hectic morning in there. This morning a man had doused his home, wife and two infant children in petrol before setting them alight, and that had created quite a commotion (unsurprisingly).
We were mistaken for fifth years this morning, and pimped rather mercilessly by a registrar before he realised there was a reason we didn't know the answers to his questions! The craziest thing about it, though, was that I actually knew the doctor, as he's dating one of my friends from my undergraduate theatre days. He's quite a wanker, though, and despite meeting MBF and I on several occasions he can never seem to remember either of us. Needless to say, he didn't recognise me this morning. When the other med student attempted to introduce us, he quite rudely cut her off, saying he didn't care what our names were - as far as he was concerned, we were student 1 and student 2. He deigned to learn my name once I'd told him we'd met (and had correctly picked pneumothorax from a neonate's X-ray - easy to pick, I know, but I was still excited to at least get something right!). I hope we don't see him again this week - he's certainly not the kind of doctor I ever aspire to becoming.
For the afternoon we were again relegated to clinic, but it was a bit of a dud afternoon, as all of the patients bar one failed to show up to their appointments. It did mean we got an early mark, though, which is nice considering how early we have to be in tomorrow. Surprisingly enough, doing nothing all afternoon quite wore me out!
Tuesday, October 28
Monday, October 27
Day one of life in a tropical paradise
First day of elective was today - after a brief orientation program (here's your rotations for the four weeks, whirlwind tour of the hospital) we were dropped off at our respective wards. Unfortunately I haven't gotten all the rotations I was expecting/wanting, but I'm ok with that as I'm sure I'll have a great time regardless. I admit to my heart sinking a bit when I saw I'm on Orthopaedics for week 3, but I'm reassuring myself for the time being that I'm sure it'll be fun, it's only a week, and hey, being just a first-year, at least they probably won't expect me to be seriously interested in their specialty.
For this week, I'm on paeds with another girl from my uni. We were relegated to the clinic for the day, which at first sounded like a dud appointment that we only got because the doctor we would normally have been placed with was busy with students from another uni. It turned out to be a great experience, though, and I think even after just one day my eyes have been opened so much to what a paediatrician actually does. For one thing, I never realised how much parenting advice they're expected to give. Being a paediatrician really isn't just about being a doctor; it's about being an educator as well. A lot of the job also seems to revolve around behaviour modification, which was quite interesting.
It was also fascinating just to watch the doctors work. I saw one young boy be diagnosed with ADHD, and it was very interesting to watch the doctor assess him and work through the diagnostic criteria with the mother. Apparently, the boy was a 'textbook case'. There were also sadder things to see, like a pre-teen boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The paediatrician referred him today to get a thorough cardiac workup, for fear his ventricular function was declining.
Our day was meant to finish at four, but there was so much to keep us busy (even though we were just watching and listening!) that we were there til half past five. We're due in at 8 tomorrow morning for patient handover in the Special Care Babies Unit, and then rounds. I know to the seasoned med student/doctor it must seem ridiculous that I'm getting excited about rounds, but I am! It's my first one ever, and I'm just eager to get involved. And who knows what the rest of the day will bring? Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be fascinating.
For this week, I'm on paeds with another girl from my uni. We were relegated to the clinic for the day, which at first sounded like a dud appointment that we only got because the doctor we would normally have been placed with was busy with students from another uni. It turned out to be a great experience, though, and I think even after just one day my eyes have been opened so much to what a paediatrician actually does. For one thing, I never realised how much parenting advice they're expected to give. Being a paediatrician really isn't just about being a doctor; it's about being an educator as well. A lot of the job also seems to revolve around behaviour modification, which was quite interesting.
It was also fascinating just to watch the doctors work. I saw one young boy be diagnosed with ADHD, and it was very interesting to watch the doctor assess him and work through the diagnostic criteria with the mother. Apparently, the boy was a 'textbook case'. There were also sadder things to see, like a pre-teen boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The paediatrician referred him today to get a thorough cardiac workup, for fear his ventricular function was declining.
Our day was meant to finish at four, but there was so much to keep us busy (even though we were just watching and listening!) that we were there til half past five. We're due in at 8 tomorrow morning for patient handover in the Special Care Babies Unit, and then rounds. I know to the seasoned med student/doctor it must seem ridiculous that I'm getting excited about rounds, but I am! It's my first one ever, and I'm just eager to get involved. And who knows what the rest of the day will bring? Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be fascinating.
Thursday, October 23
And I'm Spent
And with the pop of a champagne bottle as we walked out of the final exam, first year was over! Well, the substantial part, anyway. What we have to await us now is the FUN bit - elective! I'm flying up to Cairns on Sunday, to spend four weeks at Cairns Base Hospital. I've been tentatively pencilled in to rotate through Infectious Diseases, Surgery, ED and Obs/Gyn, but we'll see what happens, as there's been no definitive information coming through yet. I'm flexible though - it's not as though I have my heart set on anything in particular, and I'm excited to think that in just a few days I'll be on the wards.
It does feel strange to have finished the year - I know I must have said this a hundred times, but the year has gone by so quickly. While by the end of the year I was totally over PBL, I am sad to see our group breaking up, as I think we worked well together, and I will actually miss everyone. Well, everyone but one member of our class, but I won't get into that.
There's also an odd, paradoxical feeling of having learnt a lot this year, but at the same time not knowing anything. I'm aware that what I do know is a mere drop in the ocean compared to what I will eventually know, and even that will be nothing in the grand scheme of things.
It does feel strange to have finished the year - I know I must have said this a hundred times, but the year has gone by so quickly. While by the end of the year I was totally over PBL, I am sad to see our group breaking up, as I think we worked well together, and I will actually miss everyone. Well, everyone but one member of our class, but I won't get into that.
There's also an odd, paradoxical feeling of having learnt a lot this year, but at the same time not knowing anything. I'm aware that what I do know is a mere drop in the ocean compared to what I will eventually know, and even that will be nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Tuesday, October 21
One Step Closer
One morning of exams down, one to go! I was so nervous this morning, I felt like I was going to be sick on the way to uni - hmm, anxiety disorder, anyone? The exam was fine, though. I did totally bomb the first section, as it was on a topic that I didn't really think was important, and so hadn't studie at all. I managed to make up for it in the next section, though, which I thought was fairly easy. The remaining two sections seemed fair enough - the odd random, nasty, ridiculous detail that we'd never covered, but that's bound to happen in exams at our med school.
At least I could walk out of the exam knowing that I passed. Anything beyond that, I will just have to wait and see.
Of course there were grand plans to come home and revise, particularly ethics, in preparation for tomorrow, but I felt such a sense of relief that I'd gotten through today alright that I just couldn't focus on studying! Oh well, I guess at this point, I know what I know, and last-minute cramming isn't really going to change much.
It's very exciting to think that I'm only fourteen hours away from being finished with first year! Counting down to celebration time, 12.10pm tomorrow...
At least I could walk out of the exam knowing that I passed. Anything beyond that, I will just have to wait and see.
Of course there were grand plans to come home and revise, particularly ethics, in preparation for tomorrow, but I felt such a sense of relief that I'd gotten through today alright that I just couldn't focus on studying! Oh well, I guess at this point, I know what I know, and last-minute cramming isn't really going to change much.
It's very exciting to think that I'm only fourteen hours away from being finished with first year! Counting down to celebration time, 12.10pm tomorrow...
Sunday, October 19
The Cram-A-Tron
There are really only so many things I can fit in my head and, after one and a half weeks of SWOTVAC, I think I'm nearing saturation point. Well, at least there is only one full day left until the exams. We have two mornings of exams, this Tuesday and Wednesday. It's pretty high-stakes, with the two exams combined (it's kind of one exam, really, just over two days) being worth a whopping 75% of our mark for the year. I can't wait for it to be over! Just think, in a few short days I'll be able to procrastinate without feeling guilty!
I think I've put myself under more pressure this semester. Last semester, I was happy just to get through the exam and pass. I did better than I expected, though - which was great, of course, but means that I'm feeling more stressed about this round, as now I know I can achieve a fairly good mark, I don't want to let myself down.
I think I've put myself under more pressure this semester. Last semester, I was happy just to get through the exam and pass. I did better than I expected, though - which was great, of course, but means that I'm feeling more stressed about this round, as now I know I can achieve a fairly good mark, I don't want to let myself down.
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